Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Pontianak

For one person, living is cheaper in Pontianak: $480 a month against $1,214 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bali, Indonesia
Pontianak, Indonesia
Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,214
/mo nomad
Pontianak
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$480
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Pontianak

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bali and in Pontianak actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,214 per month in Bali vs $480 in Pontianak, rent included.

  • Bali $1,214
  • Pontianak $480

A couple spends around $2,047 per month in Bali vs $596 in Pontianak, rent included.

  • Bali $2,047
  • Pontianak $596

A family of three spends $2,880 per month in Bali vs $712 in Pontianak, rent included.

  • Bali $2,880
  • Pontianak $712

Bali costs about 153% more than Pontianak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bali and Pontianak are more affordable than the global median – Bali 11% lower, Pontianak 65% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73 Rp 49.6K
$1.70 Rp 30.8K
60.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.91 Rp 525.5K
$8.37 Rp 152.2K
245.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.56 Rp 82.9K
$2.84 Rp 51.6K
60.56%
Cappuccino
$2.26 Rp 41.2K
$1.22 Rp 22.1K
85.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 Rp 25.9K
$0.48 Rp 8,791
197.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 Rp 12.4K
$0.23 Rp 4,183
195.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$2.77 Rp 50.3K
-19.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 Rp 66.9K
$3.65 Rp 66.3K
0.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$1.08 Rp 19.6K
37.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 Rp 39.7K
$1.36 Rp 24.8K
60.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 Rp 20.7K
$0.92 Rp 16.7K
23.91%
Eggs
$2.02 Rp 36.7K
$1.42 Rp 25.8K
42.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.81 Rp 305.5K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.57 Rp 64.9K
$3.39 Rp 61.6K
5.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.31 Rp 205.5K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.44 Rp 62.6K
$3.01 Rp 54.7K
14.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 Rp 27.5K
$1.98 Rp 36.0K
-23.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 39.8K
$2.17 Rp 39.5K
0.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 34.2K
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 Rp 31.1K
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 Rp 42.1K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.1K
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 Rp 9,085
$0.51 Rp 9,270
-1.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03 Rp 36.9K
$2.83 Rp 51.5K
-28.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.49 Rp 390.6K
$21.95 Rp 398.9K
-2.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 Rp 38.8K
$1.80 Rp 32.7K
18.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 52.1K
$2.09 Rp 38.0K
37.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,571
$0.27 Rp 4,836
-7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 160.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,169
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 Rp 7,991
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.48 Rp 99.6K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 Rp 16.1K
$0.70 Rp 12.8K
27.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 441.6M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 580.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
$69.4 Rp 1.3M
15.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.55 Rp 119.0K
$5.48 Rp 99.7K
19.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.48 Rp 335.9K
$21.71 Rp 394.6K
-14.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.66 Rp 739.0K
$23.72 Rp 431.1K
71.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.93 Rp 271.3K
$11.57 Rp 210.3K
29.04%
Cinema Ticket
$3.67 Rp 66.6K
$3.62 Rp 65.8K
1.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 Rp 7.9M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,063 Rp 92.0M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.62 Rp 792.8K
$33.13 Rp 602.2K
31.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.69 Rp 594.2K
$33.40 Rp 607.0K
-2.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.6 Rp 1.3M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$984 Rp 17.9M
$167 Rp 3.0M
490.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$583 Rp 10.6M
$111 Rp 2.0M
423.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,121 Rp 56.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,475 Rp 26.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,447 Rp 44.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,963 Rp 35.7M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$215 Rp 3.9M
$265 Rp 4.8M
-18.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10
37.80%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bali: October 24, 2026

Last update for Pontianak: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$583
Pontianak
–
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$275
Pontianak
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$105
Pontianak
–
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$101
Pontianak
–
Eating Out
Bali
$90
Pontianak
–
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$48
Pontianak
–
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Pontianak
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $984 in Bali versus $167 in Pontianak. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Pontianak, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29 in Bali versus $8 in Pontianak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $150 – making Pontianak the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇮🇩 Pontianak
🕒 Local time
06:10 6:10 AM
05:10 5:10 AM
1 h behind Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
672,440
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,175 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,233 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Pontianak 1,140 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Pontianak

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bali vs Pontianak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Pontianak?
Bali costs about 153% more than Pontianak, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bali and in Pontianak?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,821 per month in Bali and $720 in Pontianak. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Pontianak?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pontianak, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $167 there versus $984 in Bali.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Pontianak?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,214 in Bali and $480 in Pontianak. That makes Pontianak about 60% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Bali or in Pontianak?
Groceries cost about 84% more in Bali, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bali or in Pontianak?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pontianak, where all-in costs run around $480, than in Bali at $1,214. In Pontianak it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Bali or Pontianak?
It depends on your priorities. Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $480 in Pontianak to $1,214 in Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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